Preview: Padres at Braves

September 14, 2013|Reuters

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Preview: Padres at Braves

Freddie Freeman quietly is edging himself into consideration for the National League MVP Award. Freeman looks to build off his three-hit effort as the Atlanta Braves host the San Diego Padres in the rubber match of their three-game series on Sunday. The first baseman, who is hitting .314 for the NL East leaders with 21 homers and 99 RBIs, has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games - batting .380 in that span with four blasts and 11 RBIs.

San Diego's Will Venable stole his 19th base Saturday, leaving him one shy of becoming the 10th player in club history to record 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season. Entering Saturday, only three players in the major leagues - Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez, San Francisco's Hunter Pence and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels - have reached 20-20 status this season. The Padres have won seven of their last 11 games.

Smith, who pitched in six games with San Diego between May 11-July 4, allowed two runs on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in a start against the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 6. The 23-year-old is 0-1 with a 12.41 ERA in four starts in the majors. He went 6-3 with a 2.63 ERA in 18 outings with Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tucson.

Teheran has further validated his status as a key member of Atlanta's rotation, going 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA and a .213 opponents' batting average in his last seven starts. The 22-year-old defeated the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, surrendering three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. He has worked six or more frames in each of his last six outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego RHP Huston Street leads the major leagues with a 96.8 percent save percentage.

2. The Braves are 18-9 in Teheran's 27 starts.

3. Atlanta OF B.J. Upton walked three times Saturday. He drew just three free passes in his previous 41 plate appearances.